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Small Research Grants
The Association of Air Pollution and Blood Glucose Levels Among Patients with
Diabetes in the Negev Region
Studies suggest that diabetes mellitus is affected directly by air pollution, in addition
to being an effect modifier for air pollution associated diseases. In turn, air pollution,
which is known to increase inflammatory response, can induce insulin resistance and
hyperglycemia. In this study, we aim to evaluate the temporal and spatial associations
of particulate matter (PM
10
, PM
2.5
) and blood glucose (BG) level variations, among
patients with diabetes in southern Israel. We retrieved daily data on air pollutants and
meteorological variables for the period of 2001-2012 from the local monitoring station in
Beer Sheva that records data every 20 minutes. Our preliminary results show significant
increase of 0.44% (95%CI: 0.26%-0.59%) and 0.36% (95%CI: 0.24%-0.55%) in blood
glucose, associated with an inter-quartile range increase in three day averaged SO
2
and
NO
2
,
respectively. We are currently working on refining exposure estimates by using
a novel satellite-based technique. With broad spatial coverage, satellites now allow us
to predict daily PM levels at a 1x1 km spatial resolution, which greatly enhances our
ability to estimate subject-specific exposures. These models allow for a better exposure
assessment and thus reduce exposure error.
Victor Novack
1
| Itai Kloog
2
Idit F. Liberty
1
Maayan Yitshak Sade
1, 2
1. Soroka University Medical Center
2. Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev
2013-
Monocytes and Macrophages as Integrators of Environmental Particles
Exposure and Adipose-Derived Factors:
Relevance to Adipose Inflammation in Obesity
Accumulating evidence supports a potential connection between environmental
pollutants (EPs) and obesity and/or type-2-diabetes (T2DM). EPs constitute an
independent predictor for T2DM, and obesity predisposes to deleterious metabolic
effects of pollutants. We hypothesized a mediatory role for macrophages in EP's-induced
adipocyte dysfunction. Macrophages were treated with water extracts of standard
diesel engine particles with high/low content of organic compounds (SRM-1650/2975,
respectively), and cultured adipocytes were then exposed to this conditioned-medium.
SRM2975 increased dose-dependently the secretion of TNF
α
from macrophages, with
no effect on IL-10. Furthermore, it attenuated adipocyte insulin signaling. These results
support a biological path for obesity-induced sensitivity to the metabolic disrupting
effects of EP exposure.
Assaf Rudich
1
| Yinon Rudich
2
James Schauer
3
1. Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev
2. Weizmann Institute of Science
3. University of Wisconsin-Madison,
USA
2013-